Author Topic: Is the AFL moving back to natural footballers?  (Read 746 times)

Offline mightytiges

  • RFC Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 58600
  • Eat 'Em Alive!
    • oneeyed-richmond.com
Is the AFL moving back to natural footballers?
« on: April 07, 2009, 01:15:19 PM »
Just looking at the two rising star nominees so far this year:

R1. Daniel Rich (Bris)
R2. David Zaharakis (Ess)

Both natural ballwinners at junior/U18 level yet for some reason slipped a fraction down last year's draft order behind more "athlete/flashy" types. Both have now walked into AFL sides.

Do you think AFL is moving back to suiting more natural footballers after a period of infatuation with pure athlete types?
All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd

Offline TigerLand

  • RFC Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 5735
  • I <3 Mrs Hardwick
Re: Is the AFL moving back to natural footballers?
« Reply #1 on: April 07, 2009, 03:57:18 PM »
That such an amazing observation.

I work heavily with Eastern Ranges and it's something that we are starting to see alot more of in terms of success stories. The flashy athletic kids have stood out in terms of physical attributes and facts IE time trials, vertical leap etc.

We are extremely bias when it comes to our Ranges boys but the percentage rate of our kids succeeded is higher with our more naturally gifted kids then the flashy athletically tuned runners.

A point that will be proved is a young skinny kid by the name of Matthew Scott. Must get drafted, wont be top 10 but top 30 very confident. The kid is so naturally gifted and given some age and bulk will continue along the lines of success stories of natural kid succeeded at a higher rate then the really athletic students.

Sam Blease is one who we drafted last year to Melbourne at pick 20 whose very gifted, not as much as Matthew but is by no means a super athlete. Unfortunatly is very thin and may need a year in the reserves, very similar to our Andrew Collins.

Think the likes of Tambling, Wells, Sylvia all high flashy draft picks all each to there own fine footballers, I don't think are as a success to the naturally gifted footballers in the Selwoods, Pendlburys etc.

Well said though MT I completely agree.


P.S Matthew Scott to Richmond next year.. ge he'd fit in well off half back. Watch this space.

Go Tigers!

Offline mightytiges

  • RFC Hall of Fame
  • *****
  • Posts: 58600
  • Eat 'Em Alive!
    • oneeyed-richmond.com
Re: Is the AFL moving back to natural footballers?
« Reply #2 on: April 07, 2009, 08:55:58 PM »
We are extremely bias when it comes to our Ranges boys but the percentage rate of our kids succeeded is higher with our more naturally gifted kids then the flashy athletically tuned runners.
That's an amazing comment in itself Popelord given your involvement with a TAC Cup club. I wonder if AFL club recruiters have studied this success rate between natural footballers and athletic types because as we saw last year it seems some clubs are still fascinated with flashy types like Hill and Yarran. Even Naitanui is an athletic type although he's a ruckman. That's 3 of last year's top 6.

I'll keep an eye out on Scott. 183cm tall. How much does he weigh when we're talking about "skinny"? Does he have a body type that will fill out by the time he's 21-22?

All you touch and all you see is all your life will ever be - Pink Floyd